iPhone X Battery Replacement

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iPhone X Battery Replacement

Introduction
iPhone batteries degrade with use—over time, they lose their ability to hold a full charge. Apple's batteries are rated to hold 80% of their capacity for up to 500 charge cycles, which lasts roughly 18-24 months for most users. When your battery's chemistry is degraded, it may also cause your iPhone to run more slowly. Use this guide to replace your battery and restore your iPhone to full performance.

This guide instructs you to completely detach the display and remove the lower speaker and Taptic Engine for better access to the battery's adhesive strips.

For optimal performance after completing the guide, calibrate your newly installed battery: Drain it below 10%, then charge it uninterrupted to 100%.

Remove the two 6.9 mm-long pentalobe screws at the bottom edge of the iPhone.

Opening the iPhone's display will compromise its waterproof seals. Have replacement seals ready before you proceed past this step, or take care to avoid liquid exposure if you reassemble your iPhone without replacing the seals.

Step 2 Opening Procedure
Heating the lower edge of the iPhone will help soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.
Heating the lower edge of the iPhone will help soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.

Use a hairdryer or heat gun or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the iPhone for about a minute in order to soften up the adhesive underneath.

Step 5
If using a single suction handle, apply it to the bottom edge of the phone, while avoiding the curved portion of the glass.

If using a single suction handle, apply it to the bottom edge of the phone, while avoiding the curved portion of the glass.

If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.

Step 6
Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.

Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.

Insert an opening pick into the gap.

The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you're having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your tool.

Step 11
Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left side, like the back cover of a book.

Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left side, like the back cover of a book.

Don't try to fully separate the display yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone's logic board.

Lean the display against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.

During reassembly, lay the display in position, align the clips along the top edge, and carefully press the top edge into place before snapping the rest of the display down. If it doesn't click easily into place, check the condition of the clips around the perimeter of the display and make sure they aren't bent.

The bracket may be lightly adhered in place. Lift gently but firmly to separate it.

During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your iPhone and test all functions before you seal the display in place. Be sure to power your iPhone back down completely before you continue working.

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Step 16
Use the point of a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the OLED panel cable connector.

Use the point of a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the OLED panel cable connector.

To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 17
Use the point of a spudger to pry the digitizer cable connector up from its socket.

Use the point of a spudger to pry the digitizer cable connector up from its socket.

This connector's recessed location makes it tricky to reconnect. Take your time and align it carefully, then gently press it into place with your fingertip—first one side, then the other. You should feel it click into place.

If any part of your screen doesn't respond to touch after your repair, disconnect the battery and then re-seat this connector, making sure it clicks fully into place and that there's no dust or other obstruction in the socket.

The speaker's adhesive gasket is not reusable. Peel away any remaining adhesive residue with tweezers.

To help protect against water and dust intrusion, replace the adhesive gasket during reassembly. Prep the area by cleaning it with a bit of isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth or coffee filter so that the gasket adheres properly. Install a new gasket onto the speaker, and then install the speaker.

Step 33 Battery
The iPhone X's battery is secured to the rear case by four pieces of stretch-release adhesive—one the top cell, and three on the bottom.
The iPhone X's battery is secured to the rear case by four pieces of stretch-release adhesive—one the top cell, and three on the bottom.

Each piece of adhesive has a black pull-tab at the end, which is lightly adhered to the side edge of the battery.

Step 36
In the following steps, you'll pull each tab to slowly stretch out the adhesive underneath the battery. This special stretch-release adhesive loses its tack when stretched and then comes out in your hand, allowing you to lift out the battery with ease.

In the following steps, you'll pull each tab to slowly stretch out the adhesive underneath the battery. This special stretch-release adhesive more info loses its tack when stretched and then comes out in your hand, allowing you to lift out the battery with ease.

If the strips break, don't panic! They don't always work as intended. Keep reading for some additional steps for removing broken strips.

To increase your odds of success:

Don't press down on the battery. Hold the iPhone firmly by its sides.

Keep the strips flat and unwrinkled as you pull.

Pull very slowly, giving the strip time to stretch and separate. It takes around 15-30 seconds of stretching to remove each strip.

Pull at a low angle so the strip doesn't snag along the bottom edge of the battery.

If a strip does break off underneath the battery and cannot be retrieved, move on to the other strips and then continue with the additional steps below.

The strip may fling the battery when it separates from the iPhone, so hold your hand over the battery to secure it—but don't press down on the battery itself, or the added pressure may cause the adhesive strip to break off underneath the battery.

If you removed all four adhesive strips successfully, skip the next step.

Otherwise, if any of the adhesive strips broke off underneath the battery and could not be retrieved, continue with the next step below.

Step 42
If any of the adhesive strips broke off and the battery remains stuck to the rear case, prepare an iOpener or use a hair dryer to heat the rear case directly behind the battery.

If any of the adhesive strips broke off and the battery remains stuck to the rear case, prepare an iOpener or use a hair dryer to heat the rear case directly behind the battery.

Heat the iPhone until the rear case is slightly too hot to comfortably touch. Don't overheat the iPhone, or you may accidentally ignite the battery.

Flip the iPhone back over and thread a strong piece of string (such as dental floss or a length of thin guitar string) underneath the battery.

Wrap the ends of the string around a cloth (or wear gloves) to protect your fingers.

Pull the string from side to side in a sawing motion all along the length of the battery to separate the adhesive. This can take some time since the adhesive is slow to deform, but with patience it will come free. Do not deform or damage the battery.

If you choose to use pry tools to lift the battery out of the iPhone, use extreme caution or you may damage the ribbon cables or the wireless charging coil directly underneath the battery.

Step 43
Grasp the battery from the bottom edge and remove it from the iPhone.
Grasp the battery from the bottom edge and remove it from the iPhone.

Reinstall the Taptic Engine and speaker before installing a new battery. This helps keep the battery aligned correctly during installation.

When installing the battery, refer to this guide for help replacing your battery's adhesive strips. You'll need to adapt the technique for the iPhone X, which uses four adhesive strips instead of two or three. (We'll have an updated guide specific to the iPhone X shortly.)

Perform a force restart after reassembly. This can prevent several issues and simplify troubleshooting.